Waterproof building block



Nov. 9, 1954 M. LAPJpUs WATERPROOF BUILDING BLOCK 2 Sheets- Sheet lFiled March 26, 1949 FIC-3.3

FIG?,

47 54 s1 se 4e FIGA- IN V HV TOR.

Nov. 9, 1954 M. LAPIDUS 2,693,694

WATERPROOF BUILDING BLOCK Filed March 26, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UnitedStates Patent Oiiice j 2,693,694 Patented Nov. 9, 1954 WATERPROOFBUILDING BLOCK Morris Lapidus, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application March 26, 1949, Serial No. 83,718

2 Claims. (Cl. 72-43) This invention relates to an integrally cast,waterproof, building block to be used as the exterior bearing wall of abuilding, the width of the block being the width of the wall. Althoughintegrally cast, the functions of the various areas of the block can bebest described by giving them names such as exterior slab, interiorslab, and web. The latter is less in height and length than the slabs,which are each the same size, is located approximately on center of theheight of the slab and exactly on center of the length of the slabs, andis pitched and grooved at the top to lead all moisture, which maycollect thereon, toward the exterior slab where it ows to the ends ofthe groove and drips down onto the web of the block in the course below.This continues until the moisture reaches the bottom of the story whereit is led out of the wall by flashing communicating between grooves atthe bottom of the webs and the horizontal mortar joint at the bottom ofthe exterior slabs of the lowest course of blocks. Whatever moisturegets into the exterior slab via the horizontal and vertical mortar bedswill be largely dissipated by the core openings in the slab itself andby the core openings in the web, which latter are placed directlyopposite the solid portions, or ribs, of the exterior slab. By the timethe moisture gets to the core openings in the interior slab, it isentirely dissipated. The circulation of air between the slabs and aroundthe web greatly assists in theV elimination of the moisture.

It is thus Seen that the block is suciently waterproof to permit directplastering on the outside face of the interior slab, eliminating theneed for furring, lath, and the scratch coat of plaster. Only the brownand nish coats are necessary. In the furred masonry wall, the moisturegoes all the way thru the wall, ows down the interior face of the wall,onto the oor, and continuing downward wets the plaster of the ceiling ofthe floor below. In my wall, the moisture is led out of the wall bymeans of the flashing, as explained above, before the moisture goes allthe way thru the wall, so that the ceiling is protected.

An important feature of the invention is the solid horizontal mortar bedprovided by stopping the core openings short of the top. Thus, no mortarwill fall into the core openings, less mortar is used, time saved in thelaying up, and the insulation value of the core openings retained aswell as its value in drying up and otherwise dissipating moisture whichpenetrates the mortar bed. Mortar is used only on the slabs and not onthe webs.

Another advantage of the block is its size, the drawings showing a block8" x 16 on the face and 8i wide. The block will also be made l and 12"wide. The block may be made of any material suitable for building.

The continuous space around the web of the block permits the use of hotair heat in the wall. The horizontal spaces above and below the webs arealso continuous, and horizontal heating pipes may be thus accommodated.The riser could not be in the wall unless the blocks were laid invertical alignment, but would have to be outside the wall.

The primary object of this invention is to build a waterproof exteriorbearing wall one block wide.

Another object is to build said wall with an integrally cast block.

1 1:nother object is to eliminate the need for furring and anotherobject is to save time in the laying up of the W ,is exactly the same.

Another object is to save mortar and the time of applying same.

Another object is to accommodate the vertical legs of angles used aslintels over windows and doors.

Another object is to accommodate heat within the wall.

Another object is to provide a wall having much insulation value.

Another object is to use said block for interior bearing walls andpartitions.

These and other objects and features of the invention will becomeapparent from a study of the foregoing specifcation and claims takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a top View of the block as laid in the wall. p

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the end of the block taken along theline 2 of the Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View of the block taken along the line 3of the Fig. 1, and showing an elevational view of rib 27.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View along the line 4 of the Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the blocktaken along the lines 5-5 ofthe Fig. l, showing the outside face of the interior slab. The outsideface of the exterior slab of the block taken Fig. 6 is a view of thebottom of the lines 6 6 of the Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view along the line 7 of the Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawings: the character 1 refers to the block as awhole; 2, the exterior slab; 3, the interior slab; 4, the web; 5, 6, 7,and 8, the core openings in the exterior slab; 9, 10, 11, and 12, thecore openings in the interior slab; 13, 14, and 15, the core openings inthe web; 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20, the ribs in exterior slab 2, betweenthe core openings in said slab; 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25, the ribs in theinterior slab 3, between the core openings in said slab; 26, 27, 28, and29, the ribs between the core openings in web 4; 30, 31, 32, and 33, thegrooves at the lower portion of said latter ribs; 34, the solid portionof the exterior slab above the core openings in said slab; 35, the solidportion of the interior slab above the core openings in said slab; 36,the solidportion in the web above the core openings in said web; 37, thegroove on top of said web; 38, the sloped portion of the top of the web;39 and 40, the parapets at the ends `of the web; 41 and 42, grooves inparapet 39; and 43 and.44, grooves in parapet 40; 45 and 46, thehorizontal mortar beds at the tops of slabs 2 and 3, respectively; 47and 48, the bottoms of said slabs; 49 and 50, one of the ends of saidslabs; 51 and 52, the opposite endsof said slabs; 53 and 54, the beveledportions on the inside face of exterior slab 2; and 55 and 56, thebeveled portions on the inside face of interior slab 3. The unbeveledportions of the inside faces of exterior slab 2 are designatedv by 57and 58, and the corresponding portions on interior slab 3 by 59 and 60.

Leakage thru the exterior joints is handled with complete satisfaction.Leakage thru the horizontal joint at the top side 45 of exterior slab 2flows down-the beveled surface 53 and lands in groove 37, whichslopestoward exterior slab 2. The leakage running downthe surfaces 57 and 58will land in grooves on the webs of the course below. Certain surfaceson this block are beveled for purposes necessitated by the making of theblock in a machine, and have nothing to do with the dissipating ofmoisture or leakage. The leakage collecting in the groove ows toward theends of the web 4, and then down the ends of the web and surfaces 57 and58. Some of the leakage may attempt to go in the direction of theinterior slab, but is blocked and diverted by grooves 42 and 44. If anyof the leakage should get past the latter grooves, there are grooves 41and 43 to contend with, as well as grooves 30 and 33. It would bephysically impossible for leakage thru the exterior joints to corne incontact with interior slab 3. Leakage thru the vertical joints adjacentsides 49 and 51 of exterior slab l2 will land in groove 37 of the blocksin the coursel below, and will follow the same course as leakage owingthru the horizontal joint, above described. Leakage attempting to crossto the interior slab of the block, vvia the. underside of the web,

the block taken along of the block taken will be unable to jump' thespan at grooves 30 and 33,

and willfalledown into-groove 37'ofv the'blocks below.

.side 47 of exterior slab 2. Condensation forming on the inside faces ofslabs 2 and 3 will ultimately land in groove 37, that on slabs 2 landingdirectly mto the groove, and

that on slabs 3 owing down the sloped surface 38, and landing ingroove37. The condensation on surfaces 59 and 60 lands in groove 37 ofthe blocks below, and the same course i's followed by'condensation onthe surfaces 57 and 58. Inl this way, leakage and condensation is takencare of by asystem of grooves, slopes, and flashing, and by a system ofcore openings in the slabs and webs which will dissipate moisturecomingthru the body of the block in an attempt to wet the exposed face ofinterior slab 3.

Thus, the exposedsurface of interior slab 3 is prevented frombecoming'wet, and plaster may be applied directly to the wall,eliminating the need for furring, lath, and the scratch coat of plaster,only the brown and finish coats being necessary.

The cores in the yslabs being vertical makes the block a load bearingblock, and the stopping of the core openings short of the top of theslabs saves mortar and time in the laying up of the wall, and preservesthe insulating value of the core openings because no mortar can falltherein. The size of the block gives it advantages over smaller units inthe time required in laying up the wall, saving both time and mortar.

The vertical legs of angles used as lintels are accommodated by grooves30, 31, 32, and 33, so that there is no need for cutting the block orusing other units than these block around the lintel. The blocksstraddle the vertical legs of the lintel, require no cutting, and arelaid on mortar beds on the horizontal legs of the lintel.

The spaceabove the top of the web accommodates blocking for a windowsill, and the space at the ends of the web is used for blocking at thejambs of windows. A continuous piece of metal placed at the head of thewindow and between-the vertical legs of the lintel prevents the passageof air thru the window at the head. The window is caulked all around atthe exterior surface. A piece of metal or thin slab of slate is all thatis needed for a sill. The block accommodates, without cutting, bothcasement and double hung windows, either of Wood or metal. The slabs ofthe block projecting beyond the web can be cut vertically to satisfy thelateral dimensions of the building. There should be no need for cuttingthe slabsvhorizontally to satisfy the vertical dimensions because thesecan be gured out by the architect so that no cutting is required. Thetop of the web may be one vcontinuous slope in the direction of theexterior slab without deviating` from the invention.

This type of wall can accommodate hot air heat because the web has spaceall around and the hot air can ow vertically and horizontally thruoutthe whole interior of the wall.

The insulation value of the Wall is good enough for the North .TemperateZone because the core openings in the slabs and web and the spacebetween opposing slabs provide sufficient airspaceand bafes. Theinsulation value of this wall, plastered, is better than the furred andplastered solid masonry wall of any thickness, better than the -wallmadel of brick backed up by hollow concrete block of any thickness,furred and plastered, and is slightly better than the cavity wall madeyof four inches of brick, a two inchairspace, andffour inches'of hollowconcrete block,v plastered. The cavity wall is considered waterproof andplaster is applied directly onthe interior surface as on my wall. But acavity wall is really two Walls and takes vlonger to lay-up.

Because it saves time inlayingup, my block will supplant the cavitygwallnowV used in spandrel wall construction and also where used as a loadbearing wall. It will also supplant the furred masonry wall used inspandrel construction; as; wellA as in load `bearing constructionbecause it eliminates the need -for furring, lath, andwthe scratch coat,savesxmuch time and mortar in the laying up, has more insulation value,is lighter in weight, saving steel and concrete intheisupportingmembers.

The furred Wall also does not prevent leakage from wetting the ceiling`of the floor below because leakage goes thru the wall, flows l-down theinside face of the masonry, lands on the oor, seeps thru and wets theplaster of the ceiling below. In my wall, the leakage is led out beforeit has gone all the way thru the wall, keeping the inside face of thewall dry, permitting direct plastering.

My block may be made of clay, concrete, or any other material 'suitablefor building.

Rib 18, on slab 2, is the combined width of ribs 16 and 20, plus avertical mortar joint. Ribs 16 and 20 are equal in width. The staggeringof the blocks in the courses of the wall puts all ribs and core openingsin the slabs in vertical alignment, ,adding to the strength of the wall.The same applies to slab 3.

It is believed that the scope of this invention includes:

(1) Any integrally cast block comprising two opposed slabs and a webjoining said slabs less in height and lenlgth than said slabs so thatthere is space around said we (2) Any integrally cast block, abovedescribed, with vertical core openings in the slabs, which openings stopshort of the top of, said slabs, thereby providing a solid horizontalmortar bed and protectingthe insulation value of the core openingsbecause they cannot be filled with mortar.

(3) The block as described above with vertical core openings in the web,which stop short of the top.

(4) The block asdescribed above, the top of said web being grooved `andsloped and the ends of said web provided with parapets withl groovesthereon for the purpose of directing the moisture of leakage andcondensation toward the exterior slab from whence it falls downward tosuccessive blocks in the courses below being unable to cross over to theinterior slab and ultimately is caught by flashing communicating betweengrooves in the underside of the web and a horizontal joint betweenadjacent exterior slabs, and thus led outof the wall.

l claim:

1. An integrallycast building block for exterior wall constructioncomprising oppositely spaced slabs in vertical planes joined by at leastone web, one slab being an exterior Vslab and the other an interiorslab, corings in said slabs beginning at the bottom thereof andprojecting to a point short of the top, to prevent mortar placed on topof the slabs from falling into and destroying the insulating and.waterproofing value of the saidcoring, the ends of said web set inwardfrom the ends of said slabs to accommodate window and door jambs,-thesaid web set upward from the bottoms of the said slabs-,to accommodatethe Vertical legs of angles used asvlintels and also flashing beginningat the bottom of -theexterior slab and bent upward to terminate at theundersidegof the web or against the adjacent face of the interiorvslab,a` parapet projecting laterally at each end and above the top of saidweb but terminating short of the top of 4the block, said parapets beinghorizontal at the top to support blocking for a lwindow sill andprojecting from the interior slab to terminate at a point short oftheinside face of the exterior slab, said terminating pointbeing locatedbetween the inside face of the exterior slaband a parallel plane takenthru the center of the web, at least one arch at the underside of thesaid web, vertical grooves in the faces of the said laterally projectingparapets. adjacent the interior slab and at least one vertical groove inthe said parapets situated opposite the inside face of the exterior slaband the top of said web being inclined downwardly, in at least oneplane, toward the exterior slab whereby the inclined plane will leadcondensation on the adjacent face of. the interior slab toward theexterior slab where it joins leakage coming thru the horizontal jointbetween adjacent exterior slabs in a wall construction and thecondensation on the inside face of the exterior slab to ilow down theends of the web in the space bounded by the exterior slab and that partof the parapets opposite thereto, with the grooves on the parapets andthe arch on the underside of the web preventing the leakageandcondensation from crossingover to the interior slab.

2. The block of claim l with the vertical corings in the exterior slabprojecting later-ally beyond the ends4 of the web and the verticalcorings in the interior slab projecting laterally beyond the adjacentface of therparapets.

(References on following page) References Cited in the file of thispatent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date De Fernelmont Sept. 20,1892 Kupper Nov. 6, 1894 Butz Dec. 14, 1909 Koenig May 7, 1912 TalbotMay 17, 1921 Ey Sept. 11, 1923 Wells Dec. 15, 1925 Peters June 8, 1926Number Number 10 '162,287 531,419 35,526

Name Date Lane July 22, 1930 Keuls Sept. 27, 1932 Spaulding Aug. 13,1940 Wohl Nov. 10, 1942 Armao .Tune 8, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGreat Britain of 1920 France Oct. 22, 1921 Denmark of 1926

